Animal feeding means



Jan. 16,1940. H. F. HABLITZEL ANIMAL FEEDlNG MEANS Filed- April 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ttomeys Jan 16, 1940- H. F. HABLlTzEL.

ANIMAL FEEDING MEANS l Filed April 1s, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 2 '/iEM//fze/ A omeys Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES .PATENT FFlCE 1 Gla'im.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in animal feeding means and` has for its primary object to facilitate the feeding of penned or caged animals such as mink, etc.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which as adapted to be expeditiously mounted for operation on a conventional wire pen.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an animal feeding means of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eiiicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an animal feeding means constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device mounted on a pen.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the slidable closure omitted.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral I designates generally a corner portion of a conventional animal pen. The pen l includes a frame structure 2 of wood having secured thereon the usual wire 3.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated plate 4I of suitable sheet metal which is mounted on top of the pen I. The outerend portion of the stationary plate 4 is rmly secured to the adjacent member of the frame structure 2 by one or more nails, as at 5. Struck from the inner end portion of the plate 4 are tongues 6 which are bent through and under the Wire 3. 'I'his is shown to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The plate 4 further includes raised or upwardly offset longitudinal marginal portions 1. Formed in an intermediate portion of the plate 4 isa circular opening 8 of suitable diameter. Below the opening 8 a registering opening is cut in the wire 3 of the pen l.

Slidably mounted on the stationary plate 4 is a closure 9 which is also of any suitable sheet metal. The closure 9 comprises inturned longitudinal marginal anges l0 which are slidably engaged beneath the raised marginal portions 'l of the plate 4. These flanges i0 frictionally. en-v gage the portions 'l to prevent too free sliding movement of the cover plate on the plate 4. The outer end portion of the closure 9 is bent up- 5 wardly in a manner to provide a handle Il.

It will thus be seen that a means has been provided whereby penned animals may be conveniently fed in a sanitary, generally satisfactory manner. Of course, the closure 9 is removed 10 or retracted sufficiently on the plate 4 to expose the opening for the passage of the feed therethrough. The usual feed board may be placed in the pen below the opening 8. The construc-` tion and arrangement is such that the feed is prel5 vented from contacting and clinging to the wire 3 where it accumulates and freezes or decays in the practice in substantially universal use at present wherein said feed is simply forced through the openings in said wire. The member 9, when 20 in closed position, covers the plate 4 and protects said plate from the weather. The device may be expeditiously installed for 'use on a conventional pen by simply cutting a hole or opening in the wire for registry with the opening 8. 25

It isy believed that the many advantages of an animal feeding means constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to 30 be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: 35

Means for facilitating kplacing food in a wire covered pen forming frame comprising an elongated plate having a hole therein,y a fastener passing through an end portion of the plate into a part of the frame with said plate covering a 40 portionof the wire, tongues formed on the other end of rthe plate, said tongues being bent over portions of the wire to fasten said other end of the plate to the wire,` said wire having a hole therein with which the hole in the plate regis- 45 ters whereby food can be passed through the two holes into the pen, the side edges of the plate being bent outwardly away from the wire to form anges which are spaced from the wire and a cover plate having its side edges bent to form 50 channels for receiving the flanges of the first plate to slidably support the cover plate on the rst plate, the channel parts frictionally engaging the flanges to prevent too free sliding movement of the cover plate on the first plate, one 55 end of the cover plate having a bent portion forming a handle.

HARVEY FRANKLIN HABLITZEL. 

